History of Burkina Faso

Before colonization

One knows few things of the old story of the Burkina Faso. A Neolithic civilization produced cut stones there, engraved reasons and pottery to II Then appeared agriculture with Défrichement S of the primary Forêt. A wave of riders then grafted a military Aristocratie on this structure. Holders of the political power, these riders made from the agreements with the autochtones which remained owners of the ground. This organization still appears in the form of chiefs of cantons and chiefs of the ground .

Several waves of immigration bring the Mossi 11th to the 14th century. Their integration with the local populations gave rise to four kingdoms of which most septentrional and most important, the Yatenga had conflict relationship with its powerful neighbor, the Sudan, going until conquering Tombouctou in 1329. Equipped with a centralized administration and an effective defense, Yatenga resisted the Islamisation which the empire of the Songhaï tried to impose to him.

Other invasions brewed the population of current Burkina: Gourmantché, Bwa, Sénoufos, Gan, Bambaras then, in north, Tuareg, Peuls, Songhaïs and Djerma.

Other waves of immigration at the 19th century are accompanied by Islamization. In fact the case of Peuls controls is Volta since 1810. Mogoo Naaba de Ouagadougou is under a constant pressure.

Colonial period

First columns with the creation of an autonomous colony

In 1888, the first forwarding French reaches the territory of current Burkina Faso, carried out by the Binger captain; with Ouagadougou, this last is received by Mogho Naaba. Two years later, Doctor Crozat crosses in his turn the area, stopping with Sore-Dioulasso, where the Guimbi-Ouattara princess receives it, then in Ouagadougou, where it is him also received by Mogho Naaba. The climate between Westerners and natives tightens in 1891, with the forwarding of the Monteil captain: he visits Ségou, Sikasso, but in Ouagadougou, Mogho Naaba refuses to receive it. Other missions follow, in particular those of Ménard and Beaulot in 1891-1892. In 1894, the French troops enter in Ouagadougou.

Mogho Naaba of Ouagadougou accepts in 1896 the protectorate of the French, who are engaged in a race with the colonies with the British. The other kingdoms mossi will encase the step to him. While the French Western Africa until in 1919 constitutes, the territories mossi are attached to an entity called High-Senegal-Niger. During the First World War, in spite of a resistance to the conscription in Bwamu and the country Marka, they are Mossi which provides the essence of the quota of the Senegalese Tirailleurs.

The Upper Volta of 1919 to 1958

It is in 1919 that is made up the colony of the Upper Volta in the territory of current the Burkina; it includes/understands seven circles: Gaoua, Sore-Dioulasso, Dédougou, Ouagadougou (chief town), Dori, Say and Fada Gouma. However, several elements return the autonomy of the problematic Upper Volta: on the one hand, the close colonies covet this tank of labor, and the colony lacks one access to the sea; in addition, the colonial administration must restrict its operation costs. This is why, in September 1932, the the Upper Volta is cut up with the profit of the French Sudan (current Mali), of the Ivory Coast and the Niger, in spite of the protests of Mogho Naaba. However, after the services rendered during the Second world war, Upper Volta was reconstituted in 1947; Mogho Naaba Kom, more important traditional chief Burkinabe, takes many steps to obtain this measurement, writing in particular to the president of the Republic Vincent Auriol.

The creation of new political infrastructures contribute to associate the autochtones with the management of the territory. The first municipal councils are elected, as well as a territorial Parliament; representatives are sent near the metropolitan Parliament, of the Parliament of the French Union and the Large Council of the AOF. The March 31st 1957, the new territorial Parliament is elected by the vote for all, and indicates a government of twelve members. Daniel Ouezzin Coulibaly, appointed Ivory Coast but originating in the Upper Volta, is elected vice-president, then president of this government, but dies the September 7th 1958.

Towards independence

The the French Community, proposed by referendum the September 28th 1958, is accepted by 99,5% from the voters, and 75% of the registered voters. December 11th of the same year, the voltaic Republic is proclaimed, and adheres at once to the Community. In 1959, the Republic becomes autonomous, and is withdrawn as of March of the project of Fédération of Mali which joined together the the Upper Volta, the French Sudan, the Dahomey and the Senegal. The territorial Parliament of 1957 becomes constituent Assembly and works out a Constitution, adopted by referendum the March 15th 1958.

At the legislative elections of the April 19th 1959, the African democratic Rassemblement (GDR) arrives very largely at the head with 70% of the votes, and occupies 65 of the 75 seats of the Parliament then 71 following desistances: the PRA, very minority, disappears shortly after. The senator Koné Begnon is elected president of the Parliament, and Maurice Yaméogo, which had succeeded Ouezzin Coulibaly with the head of the government, becomes president of the Council of Ministers. After one period of relative instability, the authority of the State is restored little by little. Yaméogo reinforces its authority while being elected with the head of the African democratic Rassemblement the December 30th 1959; June 4th, 1960, the Upper Volta requires and obtains independence.

Independence at our days

The First Republic

The country officially reaches independence the August 5th 1960, then is allowed with the the United Nations on September 20th. After having tried to impose the voltaic democratic Union like sole party, the first president Maurice Yaméogo is constrained to resign on January 3rd, 1966 following popular risings - he had however been re-elected president the previous year with 99% of the voices.

Lamizana with the capacity

In the name of the army, the lieutenant-colonel Aboubacar Sangoulé Lamizana becomes president of the Republic; he remverse the First Republic, founds an authoritative military regime and removes the political parties. February 12th, 1969, it nationalizes the catholic private schools. The mode is softened little by little, and on November 20th of the same year, the political parties are again authorized. June 14th, 1970, the Head of the State makes approve by referendum a new Constitution; it is the beginning of the Second Republic.

Election legislative take place on December 20th, 1970. Democratization is however of short duration, since on February 8th, 1974, Lamizana a takeover by force operates again, suspends the constitution, dissolves the National Assembly, putting thus fine at transitory the Second Republic. The army takes again the capacity. At the end of 1974, a frontier conflict opposes the Upper Volta to Mali.

November 27th, a new Constitution is approved by referendum, giving rise to the Third Republic. With the legislative elections, seven parties are in presence, but only the three parties arrived at the head are authorized to continue their activities. Winner of the presidential election in May 1978, Lamizana is confronted with a strike movement general in 1980. November 25th, 1980, it is reversed by the colonel Saye Zerbo, who is with the head of the Military committee of rectification for national progress (CMRPN).

Saye Zerbo and Sankara

However, two years later, the November 7th 1982, this one is in its reversed turn, and must yield the capacity to the Council of hello of people (CSP) of the commander Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo. This last chooses for Prime Minister Thomas Sankara, who remains with the capacity only until May 1983. Following its reference, on August 4th, 1983, part of the army is raised, led by the commander Boukari Lingani and the captains Blaise Compaoré, Thomas Sankara and Henri Zongo. The CSP is reversed, then replaced by the National council of Revolution (CNR).

The following year, on August 4th, at the time of the first birthday of the revolution, the country is renamed Burkina Faso (Country of the just men), a new national anthem, a new currency (“the fatherland or death, we will overcome”) and a new flag are selected; one also carries out a new territorial cutting, which gives birth to twenty-five provinces and 121 departments.

War with Mali

From 1987 to our days

At the end of 4 years of revolutionary mode, president Sankara is reversed in his turn by Blaise Compaoré, on October 15th, 1987. Thomas Sankara is assassinated at the time of this coup d'etat, during a meeting of the Council of the Agreement. One of the first measurements which Blaise Compaoré takes is the dissolution of the National council of the Revolution which Sankara had created; he creates a new party, the Popular front (FP).

Blaise Compaoré is with the capacity since 1987. The multi-party system was founded in 1991; in 1992, most of the government enterprises were privatisées. Blaise Compaoré was elected for the premère time in 1991, and was re-elected in 1998 and 2005. Meanwhile, the autumn 2003, a coup d'etat launched by several generals opposed to Compaoré failed. A polemic accompanied the last presidential candidate by this last: the Burkinabe Constitution does not provide indeed that the president can represent himself at the conclusion of two mandates. However, the provision aiming at prohibiting the possibility of a third mandate having been adopted during the second mandate of Compaoré, the Constitutional council estimated that the candidature of this one for the election of 2005 was quite valid.

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